Chapter 14

" T hey leave tonight, " Jock said.

"You're sure?" Robert asked.

Jock nodded. "A message went to Leith this morning to ready Alec's ship for sailing on the midnight tide." He paused. "Do we follow them to England or take him now?"

Robert tried to think objectively, but it wasn't possible. His uneasiness had been growing since his meeting with Kate yesterday. He wanted it over and Kate away from that bastard. "Ride to Granton and bring back our men from the ship. We'll take Malcolm on the way to Leith."

"He'll be well guarded."

"He doesn't know we're in Scotland. At least we'll have surprise on our side."

As Jock started for his horse, he said grimly, "Let's hope that's enough."

Robert had the same doubts. They would be out-manned, and a surprise attack might not be sufficient to carry the day.

Unless he could think of a way to render Malcolm's forces helpless, catch them by surprise.

Catch…

"Wait," he called to Jock. "I'm going with you to Granton."

"You appear anxious," Kate said lightly as Alec rode back to her for the third time since they had started on their journey. "Are you afraid of highwaymen, my lord?"

"Reivers." Alec smiled at her. "I'm not overly anxious, but I must make sure MacDarren doesn't try to take what's mine."

Kate tried to hide the tension that gripped her. "Has there been any word of him?"

"No, but that doesn't mean he's not in Edinburgh."

"Robert's no fool." Kate looked at the column of armed guards on either side of her in the narrow road. "I'm sure he'd not make an attempt against odds like these."

"I agree, but it never hurts to—"

Huge nets suddenly dropped down from the trees over the heads of the guards riding in front of them!

"What the—" Malcolm turned to see more nets falling down upon the guards to their rear.

"A MacDarren!" The cry rang out as men streamed from the bushes on either side of the road, grabbing the fishing nets holding the soldiers captive. "A MacDarren."

"No!" Kate cried.

Malcolm's guards were fighting the nets, trying to draw their swords even as they were jerked from their horses by the nets and then speared like salmon in a stream.

"Dammit!" Malcolm grabbed the reins of Kate's horse and frantically kicked his own horse, trying to wind his way around the struggle around them.

"Down!" Robert was standing in front of Alec's horse, a sword in his hand.

"Oh, yes," Alec said between his teeth. "By all means, yes." He drew his sword as he slipped from the saddle.

"Stop it!" Kate cried. "Robert, I don't want this. Why don't you—" She stopped when she realized they were paying no attention to her, and scrambled down from her horse. She could only stand by helplessly as they fought, the steel of their swords gleaming deadly cold in the moonlight. Dear God, she had never realized how big Malcolm was until this moment, how much larger than Robert. His shoulders were massive, and his reach much longer.

Malcolm's expression was set, his lips curled back from his teeth, like that of a savage animal hungry to kill.

Kate's hands clenched. "Robert, can't you see—"

"Stay out of this, Kate." Robert lunged forward, but the tip of his sword was deflected before it reached Malcolm's chest.

He wanted her to stand by meekly while he was killed for her sake. She could not do it.

She looked around wildly for help, then saw one of the guards who had been killed during the first minutes of the attack. She pounced and grabbed the dirk from his belt.

She whirled back to Robert and Malcolm.

Malcolm was cornered against a tree but deftly whirled away and lunged to attack.

She balanced on the balls of her feet, looking for an opportunity.

"I can't deal with both of you, Kate. If you want me to remain alive, you'll stay out of this," Robert said without looking at her. "This is mine ."

"Your death," Malcolm said. His attitude breathed exultant confidence. "You can't win, MacDarren. I'm stronger and more clever and—" He gasped with pain as Robert's sword shaved his rib.

"And more boastful," Robert said. "First blood, Alec."

"Last blood." Malcolm lunged forward, engaged, and was deflected.

Fear gradually ebbed from Kate as she watched them. Malcolm might have the advantage in sheer physical strength, but Robert was faster and clearly the better swordsman. He was also hard, fierce, and completely ruthless. She had never seen him like this. This was not Robert of Craighdhu but Black Robert the buccaneer, who dealt in blood and death.

"You've grown soft playing games with those courtiers at James's castle, Alec. You should have stayed in the Highlands and honed your skill." Robert parried Alec's thrust, and another streak of blood appeared on Alec's shoulder. "It's harder to best a man when he's not chained to a rack, isn't it?"

Malcolm smiled maliciously. "I knew my toying with Gavin would annoy you."

"I'm not above a little toying myself." The blade of his sword sliced downward at Malcolm's groin.

Malcolm's high squeal of pain sent a shudder through Kate. He staggered backward, looking down at himself.

"Painful?" Robert asked through his teeth. "Try this." His sword entered Alec's stomach, turned in a half-circle, and then withdrew.

To Kate's horror, Malcolm didn't fall. He stood there swaying, his face contorted with incredible pain. "You…fool. Can't…win."

"A victory wasn't in question. I'm only sorry I don't have more time to play with you as you did Gavin." This time Robert's sword thrust deep into Malcolm's chest and remained there. He released the hilt of the sword and stepped back, waiting for Malcolm to fall.

It was finished.

Malcolm stood gazing at Robert, an expression of incredulity on his face. As Kate watched, Malcolm fell to his knees and then crumpled backward onto the ground.

Alec's hands clutched the sword; blood poured from his palms as the blade bit into them when he tried to pull the sword from his chest. "No," he said in disbelief. "It's not true. I shall…not die."

"You will die," Robert said coldly. "You're a dead man now."

Alec tried to rise and then fell back with a cry of pain. The disbelief turned to anger, and then incredible malice twisted his features. "You think you've…won. But you've lost…too. Confession…" He coughed, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. "James will get…confession."

Robert stiffened. "What confession?"

"The nurse signed…it in the dungeon before…she died. I gave orders…that it be given to James on my death." His gaze went to Kate in triumph. "I told you…I wouldn't let…him win. Craighdhu…is gone. James will burn down half of Scotland to…kill her when he reads that confession." He started to laugh. "And you're gone…" He suddenly arched upward, laughter freezing on his face in a death rictus.

Kate shuddered and glanced away from him.

Robert was cursing beneath his breath. "Christ, why couldn't the woman have died before she signed the damn thing!"

"What did he mean?" she asked dully. "What confession?"

"Proof that you're Mary's daughter. James had your wet nurse brought to Edinburgh, and Alec tortured her to death to obtain information."

"Clara?" Clara was dead. That kind woman she could barely remember had suffered horribly and died because of Kate. The devastation she was spreading was growing, sucking bad and good alike down into a deadly whirlpool. "You didn't tell me he'd killed her too."

"Think about it later." Robert lifted her onto her horse. "At least three of Alec's guard escaped. They'll carry word to Edinburgh."

"I could go after them," Jock suggested.

"It would only buy us a little time. We'd do better to use that time to get to the ship."

Everything was moving too fast for Kate. "I don't wish to—"

"Kate, if you argue with me now, I'll bind you to that horse and gag you," Robert said savagely. "We have to be out to sea before James's soldiers come back and discover Alec's dead."

"We could try to find out who has the confession before he gives it to James," Jock said. "We don't know the timing of Alec's instructions. We could have a day or two before James receives the confession."

"Or we could have an hour. Knowing Alec, I'd wager on the latter." Robert mounted his horse. "I can't take the chance."

The Irish Princess sailed out of the port of Granton three hours later, and Robert drew his first relaxed breath since he had killed Malcolm. They were safe for a little while, and he had time to think about their next move.

Kate moved to stand beside Robert at the rail. "I'm not going back to Craighdhu. If you take me there, I'll only run away."

"You'll go where I take you," he said. "There will be no place in all of Scotland that will be safe for you now."

"Then I'll not stay in Scotland either." Her hands clenched on the rail. "Take me to Elizabeth—she helped me before. Perhaps she can find me a haven."

"She helped you because it was convenient and eliminated a potential threat. If James knows who you are, the threat is real, and you're definitely an inconvenience."

"Perhaps you're wrong. I'd rather take my chance with her than have Craighdhu destroyed."

"Kate…" He drew a deep breath, trying to restrain his frustration. Christ, everything had gone wrong tonight, and her stubbornness was not helping matters. He had seen how the knowledge that another person had died for her had affected her, and he would have liked to give comfort, but there were decisions to make. "Why don't you go to the cabin and go to bed. We'll discuss this in the morning."

"When we'll be well on our way to Craighdhu." Her eyes were glistening in the moonlight. "Why won't you listen to me? All right, don't take me to Elizabeth—take me to the Netherlands as Malcolm was going to do."

"The Netherlands?" he repeated, startled. "I thought you said he was going to take you to England."

"He changed his mind. It had something to do with the war. He said our greatest support would be in the Netherlands." She reached out and grasped his arm. "If you won't take me to Elizabeth, take me to the Netherlands or Italy or…or Russia. Anywhere but Craighdhu. I can't bear to see—Why are you looking like that? What's wrong?"

He felt as if he had been hit in the stomach. My God, that wily son of a bitch.

"Robert?"

"It's all right. Go to the cabin," he said. "I have to think." He was already thinking, putting the pieces together. "I'll join you in a little while."

"Not tomorrow?"

He shook his head. "In a little while." He was barely aware of her leaving as he looked blindly out to sea.

Kennilworth .

Our greatest support is in the Netherlands .

The serpent .

Christ.

···

Robert did not come to the cabin until after midnight. Kate was in bed but raised herself on one elbow when Robert walked into the room. "You were long enough. Did you think I'd be asleep?"

"I know you better than that," Robert said as he slipped out of his leather vest and threw it on the chair. "With an argument on the horizon you'd stick pins in yourself to keep yourself awake."

"I had no pins," she said. "And I have no desire to argue with you."

"Not if you get your own way." He sat down on the bunk and took off his boots. The scent of him was suddenly there in the darkness: clean linen, salt, and sea. "I have no desire to argue with you either."

There was a note in his quiet voice that made her uneasy. The moonlight streaming through the bank of windows of the forecastle cast a faint blue light over the cabin, but she needed to see more.

"Light the candle."

"The moonlight's good enough."

Her apprehension grew as she realized he did not want her to see him clearly. "What's wrong?" she asked, frowning.

"Because I don't wish to argue with you?"

"No, there's something else.…" She sat up and leaned back against the wall, studying him. She was not sure if it was the stark hardness of the moonlight or his expression that made him look so stern. "Are you angry with me?"

"No."

Her hand nervously clutched the cover. "Then you're sad because you think I might destroy Craighdhu. It's not true. I won't let that happen. You just have to let me go away, and it will be the same as if I never set foot on Craighdhu."

"It can never be the same."

"Why not? If I—"

"Because I will love you until the day I die."

The joy that exploded within her was followed immediately by despair. Too late. If he had told her this that afternoon on Craighdhu—No, it had always been impossible. She had just not known it. She smiled tremulously. "That's very pleasant, but it doesn't really matter."

"It matters very much." He turned to face her. "It means I cannot leave you, and I will not let you leave me."

She swallowed and then deliberately hardened her tone. "It does not mean that at all. Why do men always think it is only what they feel that is of any account? I care nothing for you. I only wanted Craighdhu. I plotted and planned—so you must forget about me, and I will forget—"

"Hush." His fingers on her lips stopped the rush of words. "Hush, love."

The tears that had been threatening overflowed and ran down her cheeks. Her head sank against his chest. "Don't let me hurt you. Please, I don't want to hurt you."

He didn't speak. The steady throb of his heart thundered beneath her ear as his hand gently stroked her hair.

"I wanted you to love me, but it's all wrong…Maybe if you try, it will go away."

"It won't go away. We'll just have to make the best of it. It can be a very good best, Kate."

"Not if I take Craighdhu from you."

"You won't take it from me. I give it freely."

A gift she could not accept. "Why?" she asked. "I don't deserve it. No woman would deserve it. You can't say it wouldn't hurt."

"No, I can't say that, but it would hurt more to give you up."

"You say that now."

"And I'll say it again fifty years from now. Listen to me, Kate, this isn't a decision I've made lightly. It's very simple. You are more than Craighdhu. If I have to choose, then I take what is of most value to me."

She knew she couldn't allow it, but perhaps she could steal this moment.

Just once she wanted to say it. Surely, just one time would do no harm. Her halting whisper was scarcely audible in the darkness. "I…love you."

His lips feathering her temple were exquisitely tender.

"But I'll get over it," she added quickly. "I do not have a constant nature. So you needn't feel guilt about leaving me."

"I'll keep that in mind. I'm sure it will bring me great comfort."

But he would pay no attention to her words. He knew her too well. He would never leave her, and someday it would destroy him. So she must find a way of leaving him, and she didn't know if she would have the strength if he took her home to Craighdhu.

"I want to go to England."

He stiffened against her. "No."

"Can't you see? It's our only chance. If James knows who I am, then our only hope is if Elizabeth intercedes or finds a haven for me."

"And the chances are that she will do neither."

"We have to try." She could sense his resistance still. "If you love me, take me to Elizabeth." Her arms tightened desperately around him. "Please, Robert."

For a moment she thought he wasn't going to answer. He merely sat holding her, stroking her hair. Finally, he kissed her cheek and said softly, "Very well, lass. We'll go see Elizabeth."

"You're very splendid," Robert said as he helped her into the barge that was to take them to the palace. "I have fond memories of that gown."

So did Kate. She nervously smoothed the crimson velvet skirt of the gown she had worn on the eve of Jean and Gavin's wedding. "It's the grandest I own. I'm not accustomed to court life, but I thought it would be appropriate."

"More than appropriate." Robert settled on the seat beside her, and the waterman pushed away from the dock. "You look like a flame."

She felt a flicker of surprise. Robert seldom commented on her appearance. Then she understood; he knew she was nervous about the audience with the queen and was trying to give her confidence. "Let's hope Elizabeth approves."

Robert's gaze shifted to the scene passing by on the banks of the river Thames. "Her approval is not a matter of dire necessity. We have other roads we can pursue."

We . On the journey from Scotland she had tried to convince him she would not stay with him whatever the outcome of this audience, but he would not accept it. However, she was too worried about the coming meeting to argue with him now. "What other roads?"

He smiled. "We could sail away and raid Spanish galleons. Would you like to be a pirate, Kate?"

"No, and neither would you. You told me you were done with pirating."

"Circumstances change."

She had changed those circumstances. He was thinking of returning to buccaneering because on the high seas he could fight James with no danger to Craighdhu. Yet such a life would still be exile. She could not permit it. If Elizabeth offered her a haven, she must find a way to claim it without Robert's knowledge of its location. "I will not discuss such foolishness. We will see what Elizabeth says."

He smiled crookedly. "Aye, by all means, we must certainly hear what the queen has to say to your request."

···

"Don't bother me, Percy." Elizabeth didn't look up from the letter she was writing. "Can't you see I'm busy?"

"I plead your indulgence, Your Majesty," Percy Montgrave said. "But I thought you'd wish…" He stopped, searching for words. "The earl of Craighdhu begs an audience with you."

Elizabeth's pen stopped in midmotion. "Begs? That doesn't sound like MacDarren. Your word, Percy?"

Percy scowled. "Demands. I told him you would not see him, but he cares nothing that you're beset by worries about this Spanish—"

"Let him come in," she interrupted.

"And the countess?"

She looked up swiftly. "His countess is here also?"

He nodded. "He wishes an audience for her as well."

She set her pen in the inkwell. "By all means, let her come. I'd be curious to see the woman who would wed a man like MacDarren."

She heard him mutter something in an undertone as he left the chamber. She quickly rose to her feet and moved to the gilt-framed mirror on the wall across the room. She touched the dark circles beneath her eyes. She had not slept well last night, nor many nights before, with all this blasted unrest with Philip. She straightened her ruff and bit her lips to redden them. Did she look old? Good God, why was she concerned with how she looked? It was not her appearance but her spirit and brains that made the world leap at her bidding.

"Your Majesty."

She turned away from the mirror to see Robert MacDarren standing in the doorway, as comely and panther lethal as she remembered.

Her gaze moved to the woman dressed in crimson velvet standing next to him.

Kathryn.

···

Elizabeth was not as Kate had pictured her. Her ivory silk gown was magnificent, the ruby locket gracing her throat stunning, but the woman herself was not glorious. She was merely a rouged, aging woman whose tight curls appeared too brilliant a red to be natural.

Then the queen's gaze swept to Kate, and she instantly changed her mind. The woman's gaze was razor sharp, assessing and then summing.

Elizabeth tilted her head. "You're no beauty, but you're not without a certain comeliness." To Robert she said, "You see, I told you the girl would be both meek and presentable."

"Well, at least she's presentable," Robert said as he bowed low. "Your Majesty was right, as usual."

"And you're insolent, as usual. Have the courtesy to halt your mockery and bring your wife closer, so I can get a better look at her."

Kate moved forward and swept the queen a low curtsy. "Your Majesty."

"Rise, rise," the queen said impatiently. "How can I see your features with you looking at my shoes?" Kate lifted her gaze, and Elizabeth's appraisal raked first her face and then the gold-brown hair flowing from beneath the velvet cap. "Good eyes, and your hair has a fine thickness and bright color."

"Did you expect it to be darker?" Robert asked.

Elizabeth turned to Robert. "Of course not. I received reports from the good vicar on the girl."

"And Mary's hair was not dark either," Robert said. "Tell me, do you think she has the same—"

"It's not your place to question but to give answers. Why are you not at Craighdhu, where you're supposed to be?"

"I was at Craighdhu, but circumstances changed, and I was forced to adapt."

Robert was more insolent and mocking than Kate had ever seen him. How the devil was she to ask a favor from Elizabeth if he persisted in antagonizing her? But perhaps that was his purpose. Kate had been aware he had been reluctant to come since the moment she had mentioned it.

Robert continued, "But Your Majesty is also very good at adapting to suit your needs. I remember in the Tower you were—"

"God's blood, Robert, be silent and let me talk to her," Kate snapped in exasperation.

The queen's surprised gaze flew back to Kate. "Ah, not meek at all." She threw back her head and laughed. "It serves you well, MacDarren."

"Aye." Robert smiled. "I've decided I deserve her."

Kate gave him a warning look. "Forgive him, Your Majesty. He's being most discourteous, when we have a favor to ask of you."

"Favor?" Elizabeth repeated warily.

"Haven." Kate quickly related the circumstances that had brought them here. "You've been kind to me in the past. It's my hope you will be equally kind to me now."

"The nurse is dead?" Elizabeth demanded. "What of this confession?"

"We assume James now has it in his hands," Robert answered.

"Damnation." A flush of color darkened Elizabeth's cheeks. "Blunderer. Could you do nothing right, MacDarren?"

"May I remind you that you're the one who chose Sebastian Landfield?" Robert said. "If you'd told me he was mad enough to go to James, I'd have cut his throat before I took Kate to Craighdhu."

"Are you saying the fault is mine?"

"Aye." His smile was a tigerish baring of teeth. "The fault is entirely yours, Your Majesty."

They were like two animals circling each other, about to pounce, Kate thought in frustration. "It does not matter where the fault lies. Will you help me?"

Elizabeth's gaze swung back to her. "I don't know if I can. If James knows your birth, the risk may be too great. I'm walking a very fine line with him right now."

"So you intend to hand her over to James?" Robert asked.

"I didn't say that," Elizabeth snapped. "It may be possible for me to find her some kind of haven. But not here in England."

"And you will not extend your protection over her?"

"That's not possible. On no account must I appear to have a connection with her."

Robert's expression hardened. "You're wrong," he said. "It's not possible for you to do anything else."

"And why not?"

His gaze met the queen's. "Because we both know what was in that confession signed by Clara Merkert. We know that Mary Stuart was not Kate's mother." He paused. "And that you are."

"Robert!" Kate whispered.

Robert's gaze was fixed on Elizabeth. "It's true, isn't it?"

"Lies," Elizabeth said flatly. "Mad, rambling lies. And such arrant insult, I may have your head for it."

"I don't believe you'd take the risk. You wouldn't want to expose my mad rambling to the light of day. The only safe route would be the assassin's knife, but you'd have grievous problems justifying that to yourself. You do have a conscience."

"Robert, what are you saying?" Kate asked dazedly. "It's not true. You know I'm—"

"How do I know? Because Sebastian told you all your life you were Mary's bastard? Who told him?" He nodded toward Elizabeth. "Her Glorious Majesty. You believed it because he believed it. It was unlikely he would question the queen, whose purity and virginity are legendary, but if he did, she gave him the perfect answer. Wicked Cousin Mary weaving spells in her tower. It was really quite convenient having Mary prisoner all those years, wasn't it? You wouldn't have wanted your child brought up without some deference shown her station. You robbed her of her birthright, but you still gave her the myth of being a queen's child."

"Supposition," Elizabeth said stonily.

"But you once said I was good at supposition," Robert replied. "You let me put all the pieces together that led me where you wanted me to go. Because I reached those conclusions myself, I never once questioned their truth. Very clever, Your Majesty."

"And why should you doubt those conclusions now?"

"The confession."

"Which you did not see."

"But whose contents guided Malcolm's every move."

"Clara Merkert could have told him Kathryn was Mary's child," Elizabeth said. "It would have instigated the same actions if this Malcolm was as ambitious as you say."

"He would have gone after Kate, but not in the same way. He tortured Sebastian Landfield to get him to testify to the fact that she was your daughter, not Mary's, but Sebastian wouldn't yield. Yet in the end he came to believe it was true. He said, "Not Lilith…the serpent, writhing, changing." The serpent in the garden of Eden was said to have changed from devil to serpent. In Sebastian's eyes Kate had changed from Mary's daughter to Elizabeth's."

"Flimsy," Elizabeth snorted.

Robert nodded. "So flimsy, I didn't even see it. But then Kate told me Malcolm was taking her to Warwick and Kenilworth to rouse support."

Kate saw the slightest change in Elizabeth's demeanor.

"I thought it strange, but even then I didn't make the connection. Until Malcolm suddenly changed his mind and was taking Kate to the Netherlands instead." He turned to Kate. "What did he tell you?"

"That my greatest support lay in the Netherlands," Kate said haltingly.

"And it did." Robert met Elizabeth's gaze. "Because this month you sent the earl of Leicester to the Netherlands to try to negotiate peace and shore up foreign defenses in preparation for this war with Spain. He was no longer in his castle at Kenilworth or at his brother's estate in Warwick. It was necessary for Malcolm to follow him to the Netherlands to involve him in the conspiracy."

"Robert Dudley is my most loyal servant. The earl would never enter into a conspiracy against me," Elizabeth said.

"Not even to make his daughter the queen of England, with himself the power behind the throne?" Robert asked softly.

But her father was the earl of Shrewsbury, Kate thought in bewilderment. This was all madness. All her life she had known this to be true, and now she was to accept not only Elizabeth as her mother, but the earl of Leicester as her father.

"You're accusing me of fornication with Robin and then having his child?" Elizabeth asked coldly.

"Who else? There have been rumors about you two ever since you came to the throne. You refused to send him away even when your attachment to your master of horse aroused ridicule among all the nations of Europe. You heaped honor and riches on him, but you wouldn't give him what he wanted most. To wed the queen and gain the power that the position implied." Robert paused. "Because Leicester was always a very ambitious man. At one time he promised the Spanish ambassador he would restore the Catholic religion to England if Spain would further his suit with you."

"He did not mean it," Elizabeth said quickly. "Robin has always been a staunch Protestant."

"But the offer would still have made you uneasy. You could not take the risk of marriage, and you could not give him up. So what course was left when you found yourself with child? Leicester must not know. A man so ambitious would have found the knowledge he had fathered the illegitimate heiress to the throne too tempting to resist."

"I'm surrounded by my ladies of the court at all times. How could I have had a child and escaped notice?"

"It would have been difficult but not impossible. Not for the woman the pope called ‘the rarest creature that was in Europe these five hundred years.'"

"You have no proof of this slander," Elizabeth said.

"Except for the confession held by James."

"I'd wager James burned that document two minutes after he received it." Her lips curled. "The young pup would let nothing stand in the way of his pursuit of my throne."

"Which is why you will extend your protection over Kate," Robert said. "And why you will acknowledge her publicly."

"Are you mad? If what you say is true, after striving to keep her from Robin's view all these years, do you think I'd let him know of her existence now?"

"The only way to keep her safe is to acknowledge her."

Elizabeth's gaze narrowed on his face. "So that you may make a move yourself to seize the throne on her behalf. Very clever, but you will not—"

"Stop it!" Kate cut through the queen's words like a white-hot sword. "I will have no more of this. How dare you quarrel over me like two mongrel dogs over a bone? This is my life ." She whirled on Elizabeth. "Are you my mother?"

Elizabeth stared at her without speaking.

"Answer me!"

Robert stepped forward. "Kate, it will be—"

"Be silent." She turned on him. "I'm not pleased with you either. Why didn't you tell me this before? Why let me come here and find out this way?"

"I believe our dear Black Robert was not entirely sure of his ground and was depending on the tactics of surprise to win the battle," Elizabeth said dryly.

"Well, it wasn't kind of him. Neither of you are kind. I will not…" She stopped to steady her voice. "Leave us, Robert, I wish to talk to her alone."

"I don't believe that to be a good idea, Kate," Robert said.

"Leave us!"

Robert still stood frowning at her.

"Oh, for God's sake, go," Elizabeth said impatiently. "I will not eat her."

"That was not my concern," Robert said. "I'm afraid she will devour you. That would be a most inconvenient course here in your domain." He smiled ironically as he bowed to Kate. "Be gentle with her, lass. After all, she is your mother."

Elizabeth scowled as she watched him leave the chamber. "Insolent rogue. I should have listened to Percy."

"Are you my mother?" Kate asked again.

"I am the queen of this realm, and you are not treating me with the deference due me."

"I have a right to know," Kate said fiercely. "I've been lied to and used and shuttled to and fro as if I were nothing. If this is true, then you have wronged me, and I will have the truth." She met Elizabeth's gaze and asked with measured precision. "Are—you—my—mother?"

Elizabeth did not speak for a moment and then said, "I gave you birth."

Kate felt as if she were going to faint.

Elizabeth lifted her head. "But I will never acknowledge you. Never. It would be far too dangerous."

"To you?"

"To England," Elizabeth said. "If Mary's daughter could be used as a pawn to tear this country apart, how much more hazardous would my daughter be?"

"So you will abandon me again?"

"I did not abandon you. You were given everything I could safely give you."

"You could have given me a father. You could have—"

"Do you think I did not want a child? When Mary gave birth to James, it nearly killed me. I wanted an heir." She shrugged. "It was not possible. I had to make a choice. I do not regret it."

"Because my father had ambitions?"

"Robin was very hungry. There's nothing wrong with ambition as long as it's controlled. I have it in full measure myself." When she saw Kate's expression, she said harshly, "You don't understand. I've loved him all my life. He has been my playmate, my lover, and is now my friend. Do you know how lonely I have been? I deserved Robin."

"Then why did you not wed him?"

"You fool, that would have been the fastest way to lose him. I know Robin. The power would have been too heady.… He would have tried to grab too much." She shuddered. "And then I would have had to punish him for it."

"By sending him to the block as you did my—" Kate stopped. It was still difficult to realize Mary was not her mother, that it had all been a lie. "Would you have killed him too?"

"You find that hard to believe?" she asked. "Yes, I would have done it. It would have broken my heart, but I would not have been able to do anything else." She smiled cynically. "What do you know? When I was younger than you, my friend Tom Seymour lost his head, and I sat in the Tower waiting to know if I was to die myself. Such circumstances tend to give time for thought and teach hard lessons. It taught me what I valued most in the world and gave me the determination to protect it."

"And the throne is clearly what you value most," Kate said bitterly.

"England is what I value most, and the throne is how I protect it." Her tone hardened. "And not you or Robin or any force on earth will be allowed to destroy it."

"I have no desire to destroy it"

"You can be used to—"

"Stop talking. My head is whirling. I have to think." She walked over to stare blindly out of the mullioned window. She felt Elizabeth's hawklike gaze on her back as she desperately tried to absorb the revelations and emotions that had bombarded her in the last few minutes. She was experiencing resentment, anger, shock, and something else that filled her with fear…understanding.

She turned back to face the queen a few minutes later. "You do not have to acknowledge me."

"Perhaps I did not make myself clear: I have no intention of doing so."

Kate ignored the caustic retort. "But you will send a letter to James. In it you will admit that I'm your daughter, but state that as long as James does nothing to harm Robert, myself, or Craighdhu, you will promise to designate James your heir upon your death."

Elizabeth frowned. "I'll do nothing of the sort. I've not yet made that decision."

"No, you prefer to keep James dangling." Kate continued, "You will also tell him that, should he take any overt action against Craighdhu, he will never have the throne of England."

Elizabeth shook her head. "I must have a weapon to bestir James, when Philip sends his armada."

"Then find another," Kate said. "This is my weapon."

Elizabeth's lips curled. "You have no weapons against me."

"But I do," Kate paused. "I have my father."

"Robin?"

"Deny me and I will go direct to the Netherlands and rob you of him." Her voice vibrated with intensity. "By God, I'll show you that I'm no pawn. I'll study how to use him, and then I'll tempt him, stir those ambitions you tell me you understand. He'll join with me to overthrow you, and you'll lose your lover and old friend you value so much. In the end you'll have to destroy us both, or we will destroy you."

Elizabeth's lips parted in stunned surprise. "You could not do it."

"Look at me," Kate challenged, passion ringing in every syllable. "I'm your daughter. I can move the world if I choose to do so."

Elizabeth whispered, "I believe you could." She suddenly chuckled. "But not my world."

"We shall see."

Elizabeth shook her head. "It may not be necessary that we have a confrontation. It's possible I can handle James as you suggest and still wrest what I need from him."

Kate was careful not to show either relief or triumph. "I have the utmost confidence you will do so."

"And what assurance do I have that you won't go to Robin, even after I give you these guarantees?"

"The assurance that I have no desire for the throne," Kate said. "I, too, know what I value most in the world, and it's not what you possess."

"Craighdhu and that outrageous scamp in the antechamber? You have no vision."

"That outrageous scamp could rule this kingdom better than you. As for vision, I see a life at Craighdhu with challenges aplenty and a circumstance where I will not have to give my child away to strangers." She moved toward the door. "Send the letter at once. I wish to go home to Craighdhu."

"Are you quite certain that's all you want?" Elizabeth asked silkily.

Kate glanced over her shoulder.

Elizabeth was smiling, and her expression held a mixture of cynicism, sadness, and a touch of malice. "I think not. I see a hunger in you too," she said softly. "After all, you are my daughter."

Robert came to Kate and took her hand as she closed the door of the chamber behind her. "All is well?"

Comfort flowed over her at his touch. She nodded curtly. "Fine."

His gaze searched her features. "You don't look fine."

Because Elizabeth's last remark had shaken her. Her mother had seen something in Kate that she would rather remained buried. "What do you expect when you shock me with—" She stopped as she remembered the guard beside the door. "Let's go back to the ship."

Robert didn't speak again until they were in the barge gliding away from the palace.

"Well, do we go buccaneering?"

She shook her head. "We go back to Craighdhu. It will be safe there as long as my father is alive. My father," she repeated. "Strange. When I believed Shrewsbury was my father, I never really thought about him. And now it's the same with Leicester. They stand in the shadows."

"Understandable. Both Mary and Elizabeth cast a brilliant light."

"I was very angry with her. I told her if she didn't do what I wished, I'd go to my father and together we'd destroy her." She shrugged. "Naturally, I was bluffing."

Robert smiled faintly. "Were you?"

He knew her too well. "No, I meant it. When I was standing there talking to her, the blood was pounding in my veins. I felt exhilarated, as if I could do anything. And I knew she felt the same way. It was if we were feeding on each other."

"It doesn't surprise me. You're very much alike."

"I don't want to be like her, Robert," she whispered.

"Choose the good and leave the bad."

"You said that about Mary."

"The advice is still sound. Wouldn't you rather be Elizabeth's daughter than Mary's?"

Elizabeth could be devious and selfish, but she was also strong and bold, and something about her struck an answering chord in Kate. "I think…I could have loved her." Kate grimaced. "But it would have been like loving myself."

"There's nothing wrong with loving, Kate," Robert said. "I make a habit of it."

She shook her head, still remembering that disturbing exhilaration. "I shall not see her again."

"The lure is too strong?"

"I did not say that," she said quickly.

"Would you like to be queen of England? We could do it, you know," he said quietly. "Shall we go to the Netherlands, love?"

She stared at him in shock. "But we're going home."

"Only if that's what you wish. I knew when I brought you to Elizabeth, you might have a decision to make."

"And you brought me anyway?"

"You've been cheated enough in your life. I will not have you cheated again."

He would cheat himself instead. She swallowed to ease the aching tightness in her throat. "You're much too arrogant to be a royal consort."

He lifted her hand to his lips. "I could adapt to the role as long as you promise to ‘consort.' And I would definitely keep Your Majesty entertained."

"I believe you." She laid her head on his shoulder. "But you'll have more time for such activities if we go home to Craighdhu."

"You're sure?"

Suddenly, she was very certain. Elizabeth's path might be challenging, the adulation and power intoxicating, but Kate had no wish to end her life as Elizabeth was going to…alone, with only the trappings of glory around her.

"I do not want it," she said firmly as she nestled closer. "And she would not either, if she knew what she was missing. I only want you and Craighdhu."

She could feel the tension he had not let her see ebb out of him. He drew her closer and said lightly, "I'm very gratified you'd give up a throne for me, lass. It's a fine and rare compliment."

"Well, it's not only for you. I did have one other consideration." Her spirits were suddenly lifting as hope soared through her. Why worry that this was only a reprieve? They were going home, and together they would find a way to stay there. She smiled luminously. "Our child should be born by the time the seals return to Craighdhu next year."

"There's Tim MacDougal on the dock." Robert turned to Jock. "Care for Kate. I'll go down to see if there's anything amiss."

Kate watched him hurry down the gangplank and over to the agent. The frown on Robert's face instantly cleared as he spoke to him, she noticed with relief. She had thought Elizabeth would move swiftly to protect Craighdhu, but there was always the possibility that James had instigated trouble.

"All seems to be well," Jock said. "However, I wonder he trusts me to care for you. The last time I handed you over to Alec."

"I handed myself over," Kate said. She turned to look at him. Since they had boarded the Irish Princess in Scotland, he had offered her courtesy but had distanced himself. This was the first time she could remember him speaking directly to her. "It was no fault of yours, and Robert knows it."

"I could have prevented it. I chose not to do so." He met her gaze. "I would not make the same decision now."

She tensed. "No?"

A sudden smile lit his face. "You've caused us a great deal of trouble. It would not be sensible to allow you to do so again. I told Robert we would be safer to have you here than on the throne of Scotland, and now that we know you're the heiress to an even greater throne, we must see that you have plenty to do here to keep you out of mischief."

She relaxed. "You know I'm with child?"

"I believe we can keep one small bairn safe—if he's not as self-willed as his mother," he qualified.

"He probably will be."

"Then we'll deal with that problem when it happens." He took her arm. "Robert is hailing us."

"I'll never endanger Craighdhu or Robert," she said in a low voice as he led her toward the gangplank. "You needn't worry about that, Jock."

"I'm not worrying." He didn't look at her as they left the ship. "I knew you'd never allow harm to come to anyone or anything you cared about when we went to Kilgranne, Kate."

Kate . She had a memory of that moment in the courtyard when she had told him never to call her Kate because Kathryn was the name by which she was known to her enemies. She smiled. "I'm glad you've found I know how to do my duty to Craighdhu too, Jock." They had stopped beside Robert and MacDougal, and she looked inquiringly at Robert.

"There's no problem," Robert assured her. "Tim just wanted to tell me he'd taken care of a matter for me."

"I'm greatly relieved. We've had enough trouble." She smiled at the agent. "I'm very happy to see you, Tim."

MacDougal flushed. "We missed you. You're looking well, my lady."

Robert took Kate's arm and began to walk down the dock. "He also says Gavin is much better and the most foul-tempered invalid on the face of the earth."

"Thank God," she said fervently. "And Jean?"

"She's turned the castle upside down with her demands for Gavin. She and Deirdre are about to come to blows. They both think they know best for him."

Jock and Tim MacDougal fell into step behind them, and Kate was vaguely aware of their voices in low conversation. The sun was shining brightly as they turned into the street that led to the castle, and the entire village seemed to gleam. She could feel tears sting her eyes, and a poignant pang went through her as she realized how close she had come to losing all this. Craighdhu was still in danger, but at least she would have another chance to win this place she loved so dearly.

They had reached the marketplace, and Kate and Robert were suddenly surrounded by men, women, and children.

"It's about time you came back."

She turned to see Deirdre standing in the doorway of the weavers' cottage a few yards down the street.

"Deirdre!" She broke free of the crowd and ran across the street. "How have things been with you?"

"Well enough," the Irishwoman said gruffly. "I'm not the one who ran away after embroiling me with these women and then neglecting her—"

"Hush." Kate dared give her a quick hug. "Say you're glad I returned."

The smallest smile curved Deirdre's lips. "Of course I'm glad." She added quickly, "I need help with these ninnies who don't know a warp from a shuttle."

Kate grinned. "You'll get it. I hear you and Jean have Gavin almost well."

"He would get well quicker if she would listen to me. She's a willful bit of baggage. But maybe a better woman than I first thought," she conceded grudgingly.

"Kate." Robert had extracted himself from the crowd and was determinedly drawing her away from Deirdre. "We'll see you later, Deirdre," he told the woman as he whisked Kate away. "We have something to do now."

He was leading her toward the church, she realized with bewilderment. "Why are we going there?"

"Because, as I said, we have a task to perform." Robert took her hand and started up the long flight of steps. "I sent word ahead that the dominie was to be here when we arrived."

"The dominie? Why should …?" She stopped as she realized the significance of his words. "You wish to wed me?"

"We are already wed. I merely wish to tighten the bond a bit."

"It would not only tighten it. A wedding in the church would make it irrevocable."

"It's been irrevocable since the moment I saw you, covered with mud, lying on that trail."

She stopped short as they reached the door. "But this is different."

He threw back his head and laughed. "You're going to have my bairn, you defied Elizabeth of England, and you're balking at saying a few words before the dominie?"

"It seems reckless."

His laughter vanished. "It seems reckless to me to risk losing you again. Alec said I was a fool not to wed you before God and man, and I'll not repeat that mistake."

"It means you wouldn't be able to repudiate me, should it become necessary."

"Nor you me," he said. "So if you should change your mind and decide Craighdhu is not enough for you, it would necessitate you taking me with you."

She swallowed. "A hard burden to bear."

"I'll try to make it lighter." He held out his hand. "Will you wed me, Kate?"

She looked down at his outstretched hand. On the night of Gavin and Jean's wedding, almost in this very spot, she had held out her hand to him, asking for trust and commitment. He had given it to her. Now, he was asking her for an even stronger commitment, from which there would be no retreat for either of them. They would rise to triumph or sink to defeat together.

A rare smile lit his face. "Kate?"

She couldn't smile in return. The moment was too solemn, and the joy and fear too overwhelming. That evening of the wedding had been bathed in a haze of mist and magic, but now they were standing in the bold sunlight of reality.

"Come, lass, where is your boldness?"

He was right—their love was great, but they would never survive the challenges ahead unless they faced life with endurance and courage. She reached out and took his hand. "It would be my great honor to wed you, Robert of Craighdhu."